The office of El Dorado Homes is replacing the United States Flag, our beloved Stair and Strips. It flies out side of our office every day. I wondered if it is common knowledge how to dispose of a US Flag that is no longer in a respectful condition. I searched and found these sites that might be helpful.

We recently experienced devastating wild land fire in our neighboring counties. Many have experienced great loss, their homes and property completely destroyed by fire.

This is an attempt to be of assistance to our neighbors. In this post you will find some web sites that could be helpful, and information on what to do next.

First and foremost is the safety and health of your family and pets, with those two things secured, you might move on to some of the items below.

Vital information

Per FEMA, this information may be required in many of your contacts with Insurance and service providers, it can be helpful to have it all in one place and easy to access. Gather as much as you, can as soon as you can, not all items on the list will apply.

Date of fire:

Time of fire:

Location of fire:

Vehicle identification number for cars, trucks, and motorcycles destroyed:

Name of the responding fire department:

Address of the responding fire department:

Nonemergency telephone number of responding fire department:

Fire incident report number issued by the responding fire department:

Fire marshal or fire investigator:

Checklist for next steps after a fire

Here are the steps to follow after a fire in your home:

Contact your local disaster relief service, such as the Red Cross. They will help you find a place to stay for awhile and find food, medicines, and other important things.

If you have insurance, contact your insurance company. Ask what you should do to keep your home safe until it is repaired. Find out how they want you to make a list of things that were lost or damaged in the fire. Ask who you should talk to about cleaning up the mess. If you are not insured, try contacting community groups for aid and assistance.

Check with the fire department to make sure your home is safe to enter. Be very careful when you go inside. Floors and walls may not be as safe as they look.

The fire department will tell you if your utilities (water, electricity, and gas) are safe to use. If not, they will shut these off before they leave. DO NOT try to turn them back on by yourself. This could be very dangerous.

It is the buyer’s advantage to purchase a manufactured home from a retailer licensed by the state, and use an installer licensed by the state. Manufactured home retailers and installers must attend a 20-hour licensing education class and obtain the proper bonds and insurance to become state-licensed. Otherwise, the buyer risks having the home improperly installed. Faulty installation can result in unsafe conditions, structural deterioration, accelerated depreciation and higher utility costs. The bonding and insurance requirements protect you in the event that a licensed retailer or installer goes out of business before the warranty period expires. If you use a retailer or installer that is not licensed and that retailer or installer goes out of business, you will not be eligible to make warranty claims. For information about licensed retailers or installers in your area, contact California Department of Housing and Community Development.

Move-In Inspection

Thoroughly inspect your new home—inside and out—as soon as possible after you move in. In some cases, the manufacturer and/or retailer will provide you with a checklist to make this task easier. Make it a point to open and close all interior and exterior doors. Examine walls, floors and ceilings for damage, and verify that all windows, faucets, and appliances are in good working order. As a home owner, you typically have 60 days to give notice of problems. When consumers have problems with their manufactured home, they should provide written notice by certified mail to the retailer and manufacturer. If the consumer is not satisfied with the response from the retailer or manufacturer, the consumer can file a complaint with California Department of Housing and Community Development. (HCD)

If you plan to place your new manufactured home on land or a lot that you own or intend to buy, it is important to consider deed restrictions, zoning requirements, restrictive covenants, and any city or county ordinances. This information could be available online, or at the governing agency. Such restrictions may prevent you from placing a manufactured home on a particular piece of land. During the escrow process have the Escrow/Title Company perform a complete search of all the above.

If you decide to place the home in a manufactured home community, it is important to know the rules and regulations. Are children allowed? Are pets allowed? What type, size and number of pets? Are homes required to be skirted? What are the parking regulations? Are there rules regarding number of occupants, overnight and long term guests? Look beyond the obvious factors. Find out who is responsible for yard maintenance, garbage removal, and whether it is covered in your rent. Inquire about laundry facilities, if you will need them. Determine if you want to pay for the use of luxury facilities, such as a sauna, swimming pool, tennis court and clubhouse. You should be provided all this information in writing. (Rules Regulations and Disclosures) Some parks have an interview process for prospective residents, this is an opportunity to ask all your questions.

Talk to residents for their opinions about the community. Talk to the manager. Ask yourself if you are willing to live by the rules. You also need to know if the rules are enforced by the management.

Find out exactly what is included in your rent and what is not. This will keep surprises, awkward or regrettable situations to a minimum.

Manufactured housing is often considered to be a cost-effective approach to making home ownership a reality for families. Since buying a home is likely to be the largest investment a family will make, it is important to make an informed choice.

If you are considering the purchase of a manufactured home, there are some points you should know.

· Find a reputable dealer by contacting your state agency on manufactured housing (California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD))

A red and silver seal that certifies that the home has been inspected during construction and meets federal home construction and safety standards. The code regulates design and construction, strength and durability, fire resistance, and energy efficiency. It also prescribes the performance standards for the heating, plumbing, air conditioning, thermal, and electrical systems.

· A diagram provided by the manufacturer must show the required number and position of placement piers. It must also show the positioning for anchoring devices.

· A certificate must be posted inside the home to tell what performance can be expected from the heating system, within a specified range of outside temperature and wind velocity. (Most often found in utility room cabinet or under sink cabinet in kitchen) Maps must be included, as part of the certificate, that indicate the energy efficiency zone for which the home was built, the home’s resistance to wind, and snow loads that the roof can be expected to withstand, provided the home has been properly anchored, in accordance with the manufacture’s specifications.

Warranties

Your new manufactured home should come with a homeowner’s manual and manufacturer, retailer and appliance warranties. The homeowner’s manual usually contains important general maintenance and safety guidelines. The manufacturer’s warranty usually covers defects in the workmanship of the structure and plumbing, heating and electrical systems installed at the factory. Appliances should be covered by separate warranties that include use and care manuals. Your installation contractor should also have a one year warranty. It is important that you read and understand all warranties so you know what is and isn’t covered by your warranties. You should also know how to obtain warranty service, and learn how to properly maintain your new manufactured home and its appliances to ensure that your warranties will be honored. To make sure that your home’s warranty will be honored, carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installing, maintaining, and repairing your home. Before you buy your manufactured home, ask to see the written warranties offered on the homes the retailer sells.